A Russian Orthodox priest had harsh words to say about FIFA’s World Cup football (soccer) competition currently playing out in venues across Brazil, claiming the sporting event is a "homosexual abomination" because the athletes wear brightly colored shoes, Pink News reports.

"Wearing pink or blue shoes, [the players] might as well wear women’s panties or a bra," he said. "The liberal ideology of globalism clearly wants to oppose Christianity with football. I’m sure of it."

The priest added: "Therefore I am glad that the Russian players have failed and, by the grace of God, no longer participate in this homosexual abomination."

Shumsky even took issues with the athletes’ hairstyles, calling some of the men’s haircuts "unthinkable."

Russia exited the World Cup in the group stages, failing to win any of their three matches.

It was recently reported that FIFA officials had concerns about hosting the 2018 World Cup, saying their anti-gay laws and attitudes go against the organizations anti-decimation views. The governing body suggests a "special task force" be created to deal with it.

The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) has released a new report detailing the disturbing trends of harassment, investigations, arrests, and acts of violence against LGBT Russians in the wake of the country’s gay propaganda law that was passed on June 29, 2013